The Blue Brick

Gettin’ my knit on…

December 2, 2013

I’ve had a horrid problem these past few months (that, as a positive, side effect, led to my spending so much time exploring resin) which is this: something is the matter with my wrists.

They ache like nobodies business. It’s not even a mystery – between 17 years of karate, 20 years of using computers, 10 years of pottery and the knitting marathon that followed my discovery of hand knit socks…. it’s a wonder they don’t creak like old wheels.

As a result, I’ve focused more on resin and given up (largely) on knitting for a few weeks now. It’s been _awful_. I couldn’t take it anymore, and started (slowly) trying to get my knit on again. Here is my latest FO – another Bev Cowl, done up with 2 skeins of TFA green label in ‘Chris Grey’. This pattern is so snugly and warm, and totally free! If you like it, click here to make one of your own :)

My knitting partner in Crime, Rayna from the Crystal Diva, went out with me on the weekend and helped me choose a few needles for magic loop, which should ease up some of my issues – and gave me a lesson to go with my shiny new Chiagoo cables :) wish me luck!
Surprise!!

November 29, 2013

I basically live in a bubble when it comes to things like black Friday. So, when I went to the mall this morning for a meeting, and arrived super early by accident, it was a mystery to me a) why the mall was already open and b) why there were massive sales everywhere.

The mall wasn’t too crowded yet, and I had 45 minutes to kill, so I enjoyed some shopping at my favourite retailer, and everything was 25% off. What a steal!

SO. Now that I’m caught up, everything on my Etsy site, patterns, the book, the jewellery, everything is 25% off, just for today. Enter the coupon code SURPRISE25 when you check out to receive the discount!
Learning Pains

November 28, 2013

Lately, as I’ve been feeling a bit resined out, I’ve renewed my interest in polymer clay (I say ‘renewed’ here, though the reality is the last time I worked with this stuff I was 15). The interest was inspired by being in Italy, and seeing the ‘mille fiori’ technique in glass–which I thought I could reproduce in clay.

The nice thing about designing in many mediums is that, from a design standpoint, it probably won’t take you long to come up with something lovely even when working with something new. This was my first bracelet.

But of course… pride goeth before the fall, and the not-so-nice thing about using a new medium is that I have no idea, structurally, what will and won’t work. Which is why this bracelet broke in half a few minutes after baking (you can see the seam where I glued it back together).

What I’ve been able to discover so far is that the brand of clay I’m using (Sculpey, for those interested) is the most brittle once baked. Fimo is apparently much better, so that will be my next approach.

In addition to that, Tito suggested overlaying the clay onto something else, so I’ve ordered up a bunch of metal cuff ‘blanks’ that I can graft my designs on.

I still keep this one on display – it was intended to be evocative of one of my favourite painters, Gustav Klimt, and I think from a design perspective it succeeded. Time to try again!
More “Couple-Mugs”

November 27, 2013

Just out of the kiln, another pair of ‘couple mugs’.

I was first inspired to create couple pottery while in Japan–a village I was visiting that specialized in pottery was making these traditional cups. One would always be slightly smaller, and maybe even rounder, than the other.

It’s a cute idea, easy to execute and makes for nice Christmas gifts :)

More things coming out of the kiln in the next few weeks, early Christmas for me!
House-warming Mugs

November 26, 2013

It’s been a while since I was in the pottery studio – but I made the time this autumn! It’s been a few weeks and now comes that lovely period where I’m starting to get things back out of the kiln. These mugs were a housewarming gift for our dear friends Johnathan and Bev. The colour, and celtic motifs were chosen specifically to suit their tastes.

Don’t forget to check out the Etsy Holiday Sale this week – it’s only on until Sunday – and to enter my contest!
Etsy Holiday Sale

November 24, 2013

For the next week I’ll be reviving the jewellery section of my Etsy store for the holidays – check it out here!

Aaand… it’s been a while coming, but the Blurb page for buying print copies of the book has been updated with the new version. If you love having a printed book in your hands, or if you want to gift a copy to someone crafty this holidays season, check it out here! It’s lovely and glossy and packed full of shiny goodness :)

Finally, a contest! I’ve been working with my latest obsession – polymer clay. Of course, knitting being my other obsession this was one of the first things I made (after being inspired to create a custom gift for my lovely friend Rayna).

It’s a huge, silver-plated, resin filled pendant with polymer clay worked to look like variegated yarn, and it’s up for grabs to folks who enter this weeks contest.

Mention this contest on your blog, pin it to your pinterest page tweet it, or share it on Facebook, and include a link to this post – usually I get something from WordPress if there has been a pingback, but just to be sure, come back and leave another comment here letting me know about it, just as insurance :)

Everyone who spreads the love will have their name entered to win this baby, on a 16” silver plated, nickel-free snake chain.

I think I’ll be churning out a few more of these for the knitters in my life :) If you’re interested in a tutorial on how I made it, let me know in the comments, if there is enough interest I’ll try to write something up!
Etsy Holiday Sale Tomorrow!

November 23, 2013

…. And here is a taste of the goodies that will be available:

This update has taken a lot of time, and I’m totally in love with the results. There is a wide selection of material, prices and aesthetics, including my new photography plates. It starts at noon EST tomorrow, so if you want to shop handmade this holiday season head on over and take a look tomorrow :)
Photography, Polymer Clay and Resin. Together at Last.

November 22, 2013

Today I wanted to preview a new design that I’ll be offering at the Etsy sale starting this Sunday–wearable photography.

These pieces are created using my own photographs (I’ve been showing off the autumn-themed pieces but there will be other options) printed to transparent acrylics and then baked directly into handmade polymer bases.

After the baking is complete, a layer of resin is carefully poured on top to seal the final piece in and give it that gorgeous shine.

The resin also serves to enhance the colours further, as well as protect the image.

The backs of the pieces are sanded for smoothness against the skin.

Each piece has the bails baked directly in, and centred both vertically and horizontally so that the piece hangs perfectly. They will come on 16″ silver plated snake chains.

Hopefully you like the new design, a few of these babies will be available for your holiday shopping this Sunday!
The Brickworks Pt 3

November 21, 2013

The last of the Brickworks pieces is a familiar site, but one I never get tired of. This is my signature ‘I ♥ Autumn’ design, using white birch back and deep red sumach leaves.

The piece is contained in a copper bezel, antiqued by hand. I love those little spots of copper green, sometimes a little touch of steampunk is just what’s needed.

The birch bark and sumach are separated by a few millimetres of resin, so the heart has a sweet little shadow under it. The entire thing is coated with a final resin coat that cured to a perfect finish.

Look for this puppy and other goodies in my Etsy sale starting this Sunday! I’m only making a few pieces, and only holding the sale for one week, so check early to make sure you snag your favourites ;)
The Brickworks Pt2

November 20, 2013

My second brickworks piece for the Etsy Holiday Sale is a similar treatment to yesterdays beauty, but minus the steampunk factor. Instead of being contained in an antique copper bezel this one is in a large, round, silver plated bezel.

The Queen Anne’s lace is separated from the maple leaf base by a layer of resin a few millimetres thick, to give that shadowbox effect.

The piece cured to a gorgeous, high shine. Something about resin really pops colours, so the reds in the leaf came through beautifully.

The bezel is oversized – it will come on a 16″ silver plated snake chain, but it’s really built for a bold, silver choker, or overlong silver chain.

This and many other goodies will be featured in my upcoming Etsy sale, starting Sunday November 24th at noon!